Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
I frowned. "What she did? Do you mean her cheating on you?"
He ignored my question, his gaze hard and unyielding, refusing to be sidetracked. "Haven't you noticed? Our birth rates have never been lower. And it isn’t for lack of medical care. You’ve seen the facilities we have here, and I assure you, our methods are advanced enough that people are desperate to get approval just to come to the Isle for treatment or cosmetic procedures." He paused, letting the gravity of his words settle over me. "What happened today is a direct reflection of the Isle’s rejection. Had you been here sooner, that child would have lived."
My voice wavered as I tried to grasp the weight of his words. "This... I don't know how to believe what you're telling me."
He placed a hand on my thigh, the possessiveness in his touch making my skin tingle.
"Then let your body and the Isle show you. Let me."
I blinked, confusion swirling in my mind. "What?"
"Today, the Isle took a child. But you... you’re ready to be filled with one. Bringing new life forth will give our people the security they need to do the same. It will be a sign from the Isle itself."
I couldn't stop my thoughts from spiraling, torn between the woman I had once been and the one he claimed I was always meant to be. How could I reconcile the mundane life of a hotel housekeeper with this twisted destiny, one that seemed to bind me to something ancient and unyielding?
"You really believe I can do that?" The question slipped from my lips, even as I struggled to comprehend it.
"You will do it," he replied with eerie certainty.
He studied me then as if seeing something hidden beneath my skin. "You’re already ovulating."
I exhaled sharply in disbelief. "How can you possibly—?"
"Your body is a treasure, Lolita. Do you think I wouldn’t know it inside and out?"
A rush of heat flooded my face as I stared at him, feeling the weight of his conviction. His words carried an air of finality. I’d been turning over the events of the day, questioning everything, but this? This twisted reasoning—linking me to the survival of a child I hadn’t even known existed until hours ago—felt like too much. Yet, in the pit of my stomach, there was a part of me that feared he might be right.
I had noticed the lack of expectant mothers. I brushed it off. Now it felt like a glaring omission. I tried to push back against the truth he was weaving around me, but it was getting harder to resist.
I finished most of my drink, the warmth of it spreading through me, dulling the sharper edges of my thoughts. I wasn’t drunk, but my usual resistance felt softer, and my inhibitions lowered. Alexander downed the remainder of his own drink and stood, his eyes never leaving mine. He extended his hand toward me, and this time, I didn’t hesitate. There was something about the way he moved, the certainty in his eyes that made me want to follow.
"Come," he said, reaching for me.
I placed my hand in his, letting him lead me from the kitchen and up the stairs.
As we walked, my mind felt clearer, not weighed down by the confusion that had plagued me earlier. Instead, I felt a strange sense of peace, the tension slipping away with each step. The sound of our footsteps echoed softly in the quiet, and shadows danced along the walls, casting everything in an almost dreamlike glow. When we reached the bedroom, Alexander opened the door and gestured for me to enter first. It was comfortably warm, the fireplace casting a soft light over the bed. The air felt heavy with anticipation. He closed the door behind us and moved closer, his hand sliding to the small of my back.
I could feel the heat radiating from his body, my skin tingling under his touch. Slowly, he turned me around to face him, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. Without a word, he lowered his head and kissed me, soft at first, testing me.
His lips claimed mine in a way that left no doubt of his intentions. I melted into him, the last of my reservations dissolving. His hands trailed down my sides, firm yet tender, sending shivers up my spine. He guided me back toward the bed, never breaking the kiss. As my knees hit the edge of the mattress, he gently pushed me down, hovering above me as he kissed his way down my neck, sending a delicious heat coursing through my veins.
"You’re ready, Lolita," he whispered against my skin, his lips brushing just below my ear. "The Isle knows it. I know it."
I couldn’t stop the shudder that ran through me, his words igniting something primal deep inside. His lips trailed lower, brushing against my collarbone, sending jolts of heat through my body. His hands moved with deliberate slowness, reaching for the waistband of my pants. With one swift motion, he unbuttoned them, tugging them down over my hips, leaving me exposed. My underwear followed.